Fiona Chandra
Hi! My name is Fiona and I am a postdoctoral researcher at MIT. I received my PhD in Bioengineering from Caltech and my Bachelor’s in Cybernetics from UCLA (you can ask me what that word means this summer). In my research I apply engineering tools and theories to analyze biological systems. Right now I focus on resource allocation problems in ribosomes. I’m originally from Indonesia and I love traveling and eating. I actually run a food blog for fun! I look forward to meeting all of you this summer.

Sarah Fay
Hi! My name is Sarah. I'm a first year graduate student in MechE. My research is about sports technology, but I also really love fluids and am starting to study food science for fun :). Unsurprisingly, I spend a lot of the time I'm not in lab in either in the gym or in my kitchen pursing those hobbies in a nonacademic way. I'm from Western Massachusetts, and I did my undergrad at MIT as well.This will be my 4th summer with WTP; I was a student on the EECS track and have been a residential tutor for ME twice! I'm super excited to spend the summer getting to know all of you and showing you the awesome curriculum the program has to offer!

Emma Ferris
i! I just finished my first year as a Master’s student in Mechanical Engineering/Naval Architecture. My research is focused on using fluid-structure modeling software to better understand the collapse of deep ocean structures, but I also have a passion for both traditional and modern sailboat design. Originally from the Washington, DC area, I earned my Bachelor’s in Naval Architecture from the US Naval Academy in 2015 and am enjoying life in Cambridge before beginning my career as an officer in the Navy. In my free time, I love sailing on the Charles River, playing MIT intramural sports with my MechE friends, taking advantage of all the fun (and often free!) things to do in Boston, and I am currently training to run my first marathon! I’m so excited to be helping out with WTP this summer and can’t wait to meet all of you!

Katherine Ong
Hello, my name is Katherine, and I'm graduating with my PhD from MIT this June. My PhD is in the mechanical engineering department, and my thesis topic was on modeling fuel cells in fossil fuel power generation systems. My areas of special interest in ME include: energy systems, thermodynamics, heat transfer, reaction chemistry and modeling. I received my Master's and Bachelor's in ME from Georgia Tech in 2012 and 2010, and I'm originally from Houston, TX. I spend most of my free time now with my husband and three beautiful children: Nicholas, Benjamin and Evelyn. I plan to be a college professor soon after I graduate, so I'm very excited to meet you all and practice my teaching skills!

Lauren Ferris
Hi everyone! My name is Lauren and I’m a graduating junior in Mechanical and Ocean Engineering. Next year I will be starting a PhD program (also in MechE) with the Robotics Laboratory at BU. Though I am originally from Southwestern Pennsylvania, I absolutely love it here and I can't wait to be at MIT for one last summer to do WTP-ME! Outside of the classroom, I have spent my time here playing on the MIT women’s ice hockey team, training in advanced scuba diving, running along the Charles River, and participating in dormitory government. I’m so excited for WTP and I hope you are too!

Marian Heman-Ackah
Hi! I'll be an eighth-term senior in the fall, studying Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Music. I intend to go into industry for a while after I graduate in January. Outside of school, I've spent a lot of time acting and singing as a part of various MIT theatre and a cappella groups. When it's nice I like to go out sailing on the Charles. Or at night, I occasionally do some fire-spinning, with props such as staff and rope dart. I participated in WTP-EECS back in 2011, and I'm thrilled to be helping out with the ME program this summer.

Zoe Hinton
Hello! I am a rising junior majoring in Mechanical Engineering and will be concentrating in either Literature or Spanish (I love learning about everything). I am originally from Aurora, Colorado and I am a huge sports fan (I’m still celebrating the Denver Broncos Super Bowl win earlier this year!) Outside of academics I am an infielder on the MIT Varsity Softball team, and I am very dedicated to my sport and fitness in general. Some other things I enjoy are playing guitar, reading, drawing, and catching up on TV shows like The Walking Dead, Elementary, The Big Bang Theory, and New Girl. I am so excited to spend the summer with you passing on my passion for MechE!

Shirley Lu
Hello! I'll be a rising junior studying mechanical engineering. I was born and raised in Michigan. Last summer, I worked as a member of MIT's Solar Electric Vehicle Team to send the solar car off to Australia to race across the outback. I'm also a member of the sport pistol club! In my free time, I enjoy playing tennis and watching TV shows (and countless YouTube videos...). I'm looking forward to having a good time with you all this summer!

Lauren Clayberg
Hey! My name is Lauren and I am a current freshman at MIT! I attended WTP-ME in the summer of 2014. It was such a great experience and I am so excited that I have the opportunity to be a part of the program again! I am from Middleton, Massachusetts which is about a 30 minute drive from MIT. I am a member of the woman’s fraternity Pi Beta Phi and I am a member of the UA Committee on Community. In my free time, I play guitar and I really enjoy video editing and photography. I am looking forward to meeting everyone and having a great time this summer!